Spotlight

A Face in the Crowd

In January 7, during the ESPN broadcast of college football’s championship game between Notre Dame and Alabama, the director cut to a medium shot of a lovely female face in the audience—something we are accustomed to, especially when the game, early on, looks to be a blowout. But this face had been particularly gifted by the gods, and so, in the manner of demi-goddess Helen, Katherine Webb launched a fleet of objectifying comments from the mouth of beloved sportscaster Brent Musburger, focused solely on Miss Webb’s exterior.

Oh, the horror.

There were shameful exclamations of “You see that lovely lady there?” and “What a beautiful woman!” and “Whoa!” Then, referring to Webb’s boyfriend, Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron, Musburger concluded with “So, if you’re a youngster at Alabama, start getting the football out and throw it around the backyard with Pop”—the insinuation being that, with a little work, you too could have one just like her.

Personally, I think you could make the argument that Brent did go on a bit, reminding me of one of my favorite Fred Willard characters, Buck Laughlin, the dog-show announcer in the classic comedy Best in Show, repeatedly straying outside the comfort zone of polite society. But, all things considered, I’m giving Brent a pass. Miss Webb, the 2012 Miss Alabama USA, has said that she was ﬂattered by the comments. Since the incident she has further elevated her status to Sports Illustrated swimsuit model and roving Super Bowl reporter for Inside Edition. Meanwhile, the Musburger episode has received more than three million views on YouTube, and ESPN has apologized for his remarks, which I pray has soothed the outrage felt by feminists.

I’d say we made it through this uniquely American crisis with ... ahem ... no damage whatsoever.